Dog Dazers

It is strange how the past loops to the present sometimes. We have friends from long ago, thirty years ago, when we lived in Camillus, NY. This is a little town near Syracuse. Anders' best friend when he was a little boy was a wonderful little girl, Mallory. We became friends with the family. I usually only keep in touch with a christmas card, though I have very fond memories of that sweet family, and especially Mallory's kindness to Anders. Well last week, after the dog attacked me walking my dogs, I ordered ultrasonic "dog Dazers". These are supposed to stop dogs with a harmless high pitched sound. I had forgotten till they arrived that my old friends were the ones who invented and manufactured the Dazers. The words "Made in Camillus" were stamped on the back. I remember them telling me there were cheap knock offs, but the Dazers worked the best.

So I clipped my new can of mace onto my belt, beside my new Dog Dazer. And of course my telephone. I was now armed and ready to walk safely in my neighborhood. I was determined that I would not be unarmed the next time a dog wanted to make lunch meat out of my Honeybun.

"What's all this?" asked a neighbor, when she saw me, decked out in my dog fighting arsenal.
"These are my dog attack deterrents," I explained.
She lifted an eyebrow, and stifled a laugh.
"This," I said, "Is an ultrasonic Dazer. It will not hurt the dog, but in most cases, when the dog hears the unexpected high sound, it will stop them in their tracks. If however, it does not, if my first line of defense falls through, I go to this."
I patted my can of mace.
"Now this is highly effective, but the dog needs to be within 5 feet of me. So it is my second line of defense."
"What is your third line?" she asked.
I held up my phone, "Call 911."
"You are ready for anything. Looks like a lot of trouble to go to just for a walk around the block."
"Desperate measures for desperate times," I assured her.

So I went prowling the neighborhood for loose dogs. I did see one in the distance, a large dog. But by the time I arrived to the spot he had been, he had vanished. I had my hand on the Dazer button just in case.
"But Mom," cried Asherel, "You can't go around dazing dogs! What if they just are coming to say 'Hi'?"
"I can tell when a dog is coming to say 'Hi', and when he is coming to attack. I will only daze him if he is coming to attack."
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm going on a walk," she said.
"Take your mace!" I called.

I remember when I was a little girl, I used to call out, "I'm going to go climb the mountain. See you around dinner time."
No one ever warned me to carry mace, ultrasonic dazers, suntan lotion, mosquito repellant, spf rated clothing, sun hats, or emergency flares. I used to ride my bike without helmets, and roller skate without full padding on every joint. The times, they are a changin'. The world is not as safe as it used to be. The sun has malignant intent. Evil lurks. Why did I not notice as a child? It had to have been there.

We are told we are to enter the kingdom of God with the faith of a child. I think I am beginning to understand what that means. It does not mean a naive or foolish blind allegiance to a powerless Father. I think, in part, it means trusting and believing with your whole heart that you are so loved, so protected, so cared for, that nothing can touch you. In the shadow of your heavenly Father, evil dare not approach. As an adult, I well know evil is out there, and from personal experience, know it attacks if given the opportunity. But I long for the days when I was so convinced I was watched over, that I didn't worry about it. I am not saying we should think evil in this world will not at times scorch us ... we all know it might, and often does. But the faith that sustains us is the one that hopes, that knows, that our Father will one day lift us out of all this mess, and will cradle us in His everlasting arms in a place where mace and Dazers will no longer be needed.

Mark 10:15-21, 26, 27
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."



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